`Iran’s response inadequate; US mulling other measures`

Washington: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday said she is talking with its partners on "other measures" that might convince Iran to reconsider its nuclear programme and engage with the international community.
"Iran`s response to our efforts has been inadequate and we have begun considering further appropriate measures that might convince Iran to reconsider its nuclear program and engage with the international community," Hillary told reporters at a joint press availability with her Bahranian counterpart at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department.

Hillary said Iran has repeatedly refused to engage with the international community on its nuclear programme and continues to violate IAEA and Security Council requirements.

"We have pursued a policy of consultation and engagement. We`ve worked with partners in the Gulf and through the UN with other countries to offer Iran a clear choice between isolation and meeting its international obligations," she said.

Noting that the IAEA made a good faith offer regarding the Tehran research reactor, she said Iran initially accepted the arrangement but has not followed through and, in fact, seemed to move toward rejecting it. "The deal is still on the table. If Iran wishes to accept it, we look forward to hearing about it from the IAEA because that`s the appropriate venue for them to file an official response," she said.

Responding to another question on hikers and other American citizens detained inside Iran, Hillary said, "If the Iranian government has questions about any Iranian citizen in the US, there are official channels that Iran can utilise in addressing any concerns it might have, namely through the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington."

Calling on Iran to release all the American citizens that they have currently detained, she said: "We believe they are being unjustly detained and they should be released without further delay".

"We also are very committed to making it clear to the Iranians that they should do so on humanitarian grounds, since the detention of our citizens is baseless. So there are no negotiations taking place between the US and Iran. We believe they should unilaterally release our detained citizens."